| Hyperthyroid is a fast thyroid. This is not nearly as | | | | as you are going to the doctor and getting your liver |
| common as the hypothyroid or slow thyroid. Many | | | | tested, there should be no problem. If you notice you |
| wonder why there is a problem with a fast thyroid | | | | suddenly have a yellowish tint to your skin or the |
| because you have a fast metabolism, and could eat | | | | whites of your eyes turn yellow, stop it right away and |
| more, have more energy, sounds good, but in reality, it's | | | | call your doctor. It is very rare but it does happen. |
| not. | | | | There are a couple things that you can do as far as |
| Too fast can cause tremors or heart palpitations | | | | diet is concerned, there are food that will slow the |
| because you're running too fast. Think of a car in first | | | | thyroid down. They work much better when you eat |
| gear. For this, someone could take a beta-blocker to | | | | them raw because cooking them breaks down some |
| slow the heart; atenolol, metoprolol, or propranolol, | | | | if the substances that cause the slowing of the thyroid. |
| something like that, but it won't do anything for the | | | | If you just have to cook them, cook them as lightly as |
| thyroid, just stop some of the symptoms. | | | | possible. The food we are talking about are brussell |
| There are a couple ways to treat the thyroid itself. | | | | sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, kale, radishes, |
| You could have surgery to remove all or part of the | | | | greens like turnip greens, mustard greens, collard |
| thyroid. Usually the surgeon will remove more than | | | | greens, and spinach. To a lesser extent peaches, |
| necessary and put you into hypothyroidism. This | | | | pears, and almonds. Soy will also slow it down a little |
| requires you to take medication to supplement what | | | | but I don't like soy because of the estrogen like |
| your body cannot fully produce. | | | | effects. I think you should stay away from soy. |
| Another way is to swallow radioactive iodine. The | | | | Those are some food that you should add to your diet, |
| word radioactive sounds scary but it's generally | | | | they're good for you anyway. Hopefully you did the |
| regarded as safe. The reason is the thyroid takes up | | | | medication route so you still have your thyroid. I would |
| the iodine and the radioactive part damages or kills the | | | | try incorporating these foods in your diet and the next |
| thyroid cells. The rest of the body doesn't need the | | | | time you get your thyroid checked, you may be able |
| iodine so it floats around until the thyroid gets it and | | | | to reduce your dose of the medication. If you can, |
| takes it in. That's when it goes to work and only kills | | | | great, that's less medicine that you have to take. |
| the thyroid cells. Same with surgery, you usually end up | | | | Some foods you should avoid too because they tend |
| killing too many cells and have to be on medication. | | | | to stimulate the thyroid and that's defeating the |
| There are two medications are out there, Tapazole | | | | purpose of what we are trying to do. Caffeine, sugar, |
| (methimazole) and propylthiouracil (PTU), that slow the | | | | and red food coloring stimulate the thyroid. MSG, |
| thyroid's production of hormone. The methimazole is | | | | processed meats like hot dogs and lunch meats, |
| far more popular than the PTU. It takes a couple | | | | artificial sweeteners, and seafood that is high in iodine |
| weeks but the medication is very effective in slowing | | | | like shellfish and shrimp, or lobster are food that should |
| down the hormone production. I like the medication | | | | generally be avoided. The iodine in the seafood is going |
| route, probably because I'm a pharmacist, and you're | | | | to go and boost that thyroid. |
| not killing anything. Also, you can adjust the dose the | | | | I'm not saying totally eliminate these foods from your |
| get the right dose for you. | | | | diet, just know that they are going to up the thyroid |
| Like any medication, they can cause stomach upset, | | | | some. |
| rash, or fever, but they are generally pretty well | | | | It's not too difficult to treat hyperthyroid, you just have |
| tolerated. The methimazole is filtered by the liver and | | | | to be diligent with your diet and get the right dose of |
| there is a very small chance of liver issues. Liver | | | | medication, if you have to take it, and you can pretty |
| damage generally takes a while to build up and as long | | | | much live a normal life. |